Compare towns
Hanover vs Meredith vs Norwich vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hanover | Meredith | Norwich | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
6,758 |
3,640Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.